The Graf–Navratilova rivalry was a tennis rivalry between Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova, widely regarded as two of the greatest tennis players of all time. They met 18 times during their careers, and their head-to-head is even at 9–9, with Graf having a 4–2 record in major finals but Navratilova having a 5–4 record in overall major matches (winning their last major meeting despite being 34 at the time). They contested three consecutive Wimbledon singles finals (1987, 1988, 1989). Notably, despite how even their rivalry was, the age difference between Navratilova and Graf is more than 12.5 years.
List of all matches
Legend
|
Graf
|
Navratilova
|
Grand Slam
|
4
|
5
|
WTA Tour Championships
|
1
|
2
|
WTA Tour Events
|
4
|
2
|
Total
|
9
|
9
|
Graf–Navratilova (9–9)
No.
|
Date
|
Tournament
|
Surface
|
Round
|
Winner
|
Score
|
Graf
|
Navratilova
|
1.
|
1985
|
US Open
|
Hard
|
Semifinals
|
Navratilova
|
6–2, 6–3
|
0
|
1
|
2.
|
1986
|
Maybelline Classic
|
Hard
|
Final
|
Navratilova
|
6–3, 6–1
|
0
|
2
|
3.
|
1986
|
Virginia Slims Championships
|
Carpet
|
Semifinals
|
Navratilova
|
6–2, 6–2
|
0
|
3
|
4.
|
1986
|
German Open
|
Clay
|
Final
|
Graf
|
6–2, 6–3
|
1
|
3
|
5.
|
1986
|
US Open
|
Hard
|
Semifinals
|
Navratilova
|
6–1, 6–7(3–7), 7–6(10–8)
|
1
|
4
|
6.
|
1986
|
Virginia Slims Championships
|
Carpet
|
Final
|
Navratilova
|
7–6(8–6), 6–3, 6–2
|
1
|
5
|
7.
|
1987
|
Miami Open
|
Hard
|
Semifinals
|
Graf
|
6–3, 6–2
|
2
|
5
|
8.
|
1987
|
Roland Garros
|
Clay
|
Final
|
Graf
|
6–4, 4–6, 8–6
|
3
|
5
|
9.
|
1987
|
Wimbledon
|
Grass
|
Final
|
Navratilova
|
7–5, 6–3
|
3
|
6
|
10.
|
1987
|
US Open
|
Hard
|
Final
|
Navratilova
|
7–6(7–4), 6–1
|
3
|
7
|
11.
|
1988
|
Wimbledon
|
Grass
|
Final
|
Graf
|
5–7, 6–2, 6–1
|
4
|
7
|
12.
|
1989
|
Wimbledon
|
Grass
|
Final
|
Graf
|
6–2, 6–7(1–7), 6–1
|
5
|
7
|
13.
|
1989
|
US Open
|
Hard
|
Final
|
Graf
|
3–6, 7–5, 6–1
|
6
|
7
|
14.
|
1989
|
Virginia Slims Championships
|
Carpet
|
Final
|
Graf
|
6–4, 7–5, 2–6, 6–2
|
7
|
7
|
15.
|
1991
|
US Open
|
Hard
|
Semifinals
|
Navratilova
|
7–6(7–2), 6–7(6–8), 6–4
|
7
|
8
|
16.
|
1992
|
Zurich Open
|
Carpet
|
Final
|
Graf
|
2–6, 7–5, 7–5
|
8
|
8
|
17.
|
1993
|
Pan Pacific Open
|
Carpet
|
Semifinals
|
Navratilova
|
4–6, 6–3, 6–3
|
8
|
9
|
18.
|
1994
|
Pan Pacific Open
|
Carpet
|
Final
|
Graf
|
6–2, 6–4
|
9
|
9
|
Breakdown of the rivalry
- Hard courts: Navratilova, 5–2
- Clay courts: Graf, 2–0
- Grass courts: Graf, 2–1
- Carpet courts: Equal, 3–3
- Grand Slam matches: Navratilova, 5–4
- Grand Slam finals: Graf, 4–2
- Year-End Championships matches: Navratilova, 2–1
- Year-End Championships finals: Equal, 1–1
- Fed Cup matches: None
- All finals: Graf, 8–4
- All matches: Equal, 9–9
Set tallies
Graf |
Set score |
Navratilova
|
1 |
8–6 |
0
|
2 |
7–6 |
5
|
4 |
7–5 |
2
|
4 |
6–4 |
2
|
2 |
6–3 |
7
|
6 |
6–2 |
6
|
3 |
6–1 |
3
|
0 |
6–0 |
0
|
22 |
Total sets |
25
|
224 |
Total games |
232
|
See also
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118 WTA Titles: 107 Singles & 11 Doubles |
Entourage |
- Title-winning/medal-winning doubles partners
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Career | |
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Rivalries | |
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Year-end No.1 | |
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Grand Slam titles | Australian Open | |
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French Open | |
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Wimbledon | |
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US Open | |
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WTA Tour titles | WTA Finals & analogues | |
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WTA 1000 & analogues | Pre-Category 5 (1986—1987) | |
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Category 5 (1988—1989) | |
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Tier I (1990—2008) | |
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National representation | Olympic medals | |
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BJK Cup wins & analogues | |
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Hopman Cup wins | |
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359 WTA Titles: 167 Singles, 177 Doubles & 15 Mixed Doubles |
Coaches | | |
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Career | |
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Rivalries | |
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